title: Distinctive functional characteristics of human "T" lymphocytes defined by E rosetting or a monoclonal anti-T cell antibody.
abstract: The properties of human lymphocyte fractions isolated either by sheep red cell(E) rosetting or by fluorescence-activated cell sorting after staining with UCHT1 monoclonal anti-T cell antibody have been compared. Two populations of E+ cells with very different phenotype and function have been identified. E+/UCHT1+ cells respond well to the T cell mitogens phytohemagglutinin and concanavalin A and provide help for an in vitro specific antibody response. They can also suppress the antibody response of allegeneic peripheral blood mononuclear cells. In contrast, the E+/UCHT1- population, which has no other markers characteristic of T cells, fails to respond to mitogens or to provide help or suppression for an antibody response. These cells, however, are highly active natural killers. They possess Fc gamma receptors and have a characteristic staining pattern of nonspecific esterase enzyme activity. It is concluded that not all cells capable of forming E rosettes are thymus-processed cells and that this heterogeneity can be revealed by staining with the monoclonal anti-T cell reagent UCHT1.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010641:Phenotype; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000494:pharmacology; D012397:Rosette Formation; D012756:Sheep; D013205:Staphylococcal Protein A / Q000494:pharmacology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D013205:Staphylococcal Protein A; D003208:Concanavalin A